If you have been critically injured after a severe pedestrian accident, you may wonder how you will get through these challenging times.
Fortunately, with help from a Sarasota pedestrian accident lawyer at GED Lawyers, you could get justice. Hold the liable party accountable and recover maximum compensation for your damages when you schedule your free consultation today.
Benefits of Having a Pedestrian Accident Lawyer Handle Your Case in Sarasota
You do not have to fight to recover compensation for your losses by yourself. A lawyer specializing in pedestrian accidents and personal injury cases can handle your legal fight on your behalf while you focus on your recovery.
If you hire a pedestrian accident lawyer from our firm, you can expect us to:
- Investigate the accident by visiting the scene and collecting evidence to discover the facts of the case and determine liability. Evidence that could be helpful in your case includes police reports, medical records, expert opinions, and witness statements.
- Determine the value of your claim so we can pursue an amount of compensation that fairly covers your losses.
- Negotiate with the liable party and their insurance provider on your behalf to reach a settlement agreement.
- Communicate with you regularly and provide you with updates on your case.
- If necessary, file a lawsuit and represent you at trial, although most personal injury cases settle out of court.
Hiring a lawyer takes the burden of handling your case alone off your shoulders. The legal process is complex and can take time. You should spend that time healing and taking care of your family. Let us do the heavy legal lifting because it’s what we do best.
When to Call a Pedestrian Accident Lawyer in Sarasota
It may not always be clear when it is in your best interests to contact a Sarasota pedestrian accident lawyer for help. However, when your injuries have significantly impacted your life, you may have the right to compensation for your suffering. It is not enough that your injuries have been debilitating.
Your attorney must also be able to show that someone else is responsible for causing your injuries. However, this is where you may not know whether someone else is at fault for causing your injuries. If you are unsure, or believe it is possible that someone else could be responsible for your injuries, do not hesitate to contact a Sarasota pedestrian accident attorney for help.
Your consultation will be free. Most pedestrian accident attorneys will be willing to work with injury victims on contingency. This means you will not be at risk by pursuing your case. Instead, your attorney will absorb this risk on your behalf, covering all necessary expenses as part of the claims process. You will not be expected to cover any fees unless or until we recover compensation in your case.
Common Pedestrian Accident Injuries
Although the type of injury you suffered will not determine whether you have grounds to move forward with a claim, we see some types of pedestrian accident injuries more frequently than others. These include:
- Head, neck, and back injuries
- Depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and anxiety
- Full-thickness burns and lacerations
- Disfigurement, skin scarring, and dismemberment
- Amputation
- Traumatic brain injuries, concussions, and contusions
- Paralysis, spinal cord injuries, paraplegia, and quadriplegia
These are only a few of the different types of injuries you could endure in a pedestrian accident in Sarasota. If you suffered another type of injury not listed above, you may still have grounds for financial compensation. You can discuss your options going forward when you contact a pedestrian accident lawyer for help.
How Do Pedestrian Accidents Happen in Sarasota?
Pedestrian accidents occur in a variety of ways. However, in most cases, pedestrian accidents happen when a person is walking and is suddenly struck by a vehicle. In many cases, it is assumed that the driver who hit you is responsible for causing your injuries.
However, although negligent driving can be one of the most common causes of pedestrian accidents, it is not the only cause. Some of the other ways in which pedestrian accidents occur in Sarasota include:
- Speeding
- Dangerous road conditions
- Failure to yield to the right of way
- Failure to use a turn signal
- Failure to stop at a traffic light or stop sign
- Defective or malfunctioning auto parts
- Distracted, drunk, drowsy, or drugged driving
- Aggressive or reckless driving
Who Is Liable for Causing Your Injuries?
Establishing fault will be one of your attorney’s most important responsibilities. You might quickly assume the negligent driver is at fault for your injuries. While this is often the case, multiple other parties could share liability for your injuries.
For example, if drunk driving caused your pedestrian accident injuries, local dram shops that overserved or sold the defendant alcohol could share liability for your injuries.
If dangerous road conditions caused your accident, several parties could be at fault for your injuries, such as:
- Government agencies and officials
- Municipalities
- The Department of Transportation
- Other agencies responsible for road safety and integrity
- Contractors and subcontractors
- Safety inspectors
There is also a chance that malfunctioning or defective auto parts caused your injuries. If this happens, anyone involved in the chain of distribution of the defective auto parts could be responsible for your damages. Some of these parties might include:
- Auto parts designers
- Auto parts manufacturers
- Auto parts distributors
- Auto parts suppliers
- Safety inspectors
- Maintenance technicians
- Motor vehicle dealerships
- Other third parties
How Insurance Claims Work
Many pedestrian accident victims believe that insurance claims will fully cover their damages. However, this is often not the case. Insurance companies do not regularly pay out on claims without putting up a fight. It is common for insurance companies to reduce or deny the injury settlements of claimants wherever possible.
Not only do you need to worry about insurance companies attempting to take advantage of you and your greatest time of need, but you can expect the insurance settlement to not adequately cover your damages.
This is because insurance companies are only required to compensate injury victims based on the amount of coverage purchased by their policyholders. The insurance company will not cover any excess damages. When this happens, you may need to be prepared to bring your case to court if you hope to maximize your compensation.
Compensation for Pedestrian Accident Victims in Sarasota
Pedestrian accident victims have the right to maximum compensation for their damages. To get the most out of your claim, your attorney will need to analyze your economic and non-economic damages.
Economic damages are monetary and non-economic damages that describe how your life has been affected by your injuries. Some of the more common types of damages that may be recoverable include:
- Property damages
- Lost wages
- Loss of consortium
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Medical expenses
- Diminished earning capacity
However, time is of the essence as you only have four years to take legal action per Florida Statutes § 95.11. After this period is over, the legal system will be harder to navigate. Call us today for a free consultation to get the compensation you deserve.
Meet With a Sarasota Pedestrian Accident Attorney Today
The pedestrian accident claims process can seem overwhelming. Fortunately, once you retain a dedicated legal advocate, you can rest easier. Focus on recuperating from your injuries.
Your Sarasota pedestrian accident lawyer at Ged Lawyers will handle the legal details of your case. When you are ready to get started, contact our office for a no-cost, risk-free consultation. You can reach us through our convenient contact form or by phone today.
